Palm Sunday: Love Beyond Borders

”Following Jesus is to allow him to make your heart much, much bigger.” Text: John 12:12-9

1 | ”Us and them” runs deeper than we think

Text:John 11:45-57

2 | Jesus and Jerusalem: God’s Portrait of Power

Text:John 12:12-19

”No longer is the question the legitimation of rule, but the character of God’s rule as the gentle lamb on the throne, deconstructing human domination and oppression. We learn that human oppression is unnecessary and abhorrent to God. We are ushered into the drone room and find that the king took our coat at the door.’” – Alan Storkey, Jesus and Politics.

3 | Jesus removes our nationalism

Text:John 12:20-26

4 | Jesus shows us God’s heart for everyone

Text:John 12:27-33

5 | Jesus: What do you do with him?

Text:John 12:34-50Reject him and maintain your current way of living?
ORFollow him and embrace his new way of loving?

WARMING UP1. What is it about political leaders that we love to discuss them and their ability to lead?2. When you think of political leaders, who is one person whom you admire & why?DISCUSSING AND LEARNING3. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, was to make a statement. What statement was he making? Read Zechariah 9:9-10 to learn more. Actually read from 9:1-10 to get an even more complete understanding.4. In John’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Jesus is challenging the nationalistic tendencies of the people. Jump over to Luke 4:14-28, especially versos 21-30. How is Jesus challenging their nationalism in this passage? What is he trying to communicate to them in both these incidents?5. Read John 12:31-33. In these verses, who is judgement for? (He says it plainly). What is Jesus’ plan for the rest of humanity, including but also beyond Israel?MAKING IT REAL6. Jesus was challenging the “us and them” tendencies of the people in Jerusalem at that time. He has been doing that to people ever since. What “us and them” tendencies is he revealing that are still in your own life? How will you respond to his desire to free you from excluding people from coming to God?7. During this time of heightened nationalistic protection, because of the pandemic, based on the example of Jesus, how would he instruct us to behave as his followers? Who should we try to help? Who should we not help?8. What benefits will result when we learn to decrease and/or eliminate our “us and them” thinking and living?

1. The next time you watch the news and listen to a political leader, consider how Jesus would instruct them, based on what we’ve learned from him in John 11-122. Make a list of those whom you still consider “other.” (It could be anyone). Ask God to help you embrace them with his love instead. Then do something tangible to that end.